Loading device for trucks

ABSTRACT

A self-loading device built into a truck body for transferring freight from one place to another on the truck, the device, including an under floor carriage that protrudes through the body to lift freight off the floor and deposit it at another area, on the truck.

United States Patent Duszka Feb. 15, 1972 [54] LOADING DEVICE FOR TRUCKS[56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Stephen Duszka, 340 New EnglandTer- UNlTED STATES PATENTS race, Orange, NJ. 07050 I I 3,346,132 10 1967Duszka ..214/5l6 [221 Flled= Aug-26,1970 3,529,481 9/1970 Budzyn..214/5l6X 211 Appl.No.: 67,078

Related U.S. App11cation Data Substitute for Ser. No. 711,721, Mar. 8,1968, abandonedt Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay Attorney-Polachek 8;Saulsbury [5 7] ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 1 5I972 SHEET 1 (IF 5 n.. m. m w. L

PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 SHEET 3 OF 5 INVENTOR, STEPHEN DUSZKA f w A TTURNEX5 LOADING DEVICE FOR TRUCKS This application describes and claimssubject matter described and claimed in my application, Ser. No.711,721, filed Mar. 8. 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to automotive trucks and trailers suchas are used for transporting freight. More specifically, it relates tofreight loading mechanism used for relocating freight on a truck ortrailer.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a truckloading device having means for moving horizontally to transfer goodsand freight from one area of the truck bed or body to another.

Another object is to provide a truck loading device having means forlifting an item of freight from the truck floor, transporting it inspace above the floor, and then lowering it to exhausting, floor and thedestination.

Yet another object is to provide a truck lifting device which isdesigned to mechanically move goods between opposite ends of a truckbody or bed during loading or unloading, and thus replace exhausting,time-consuming and expensive manual labor.

Yet another object is to provide a truck loading device that can bebuilt into the floor of the body or bed of a truck or trailer and whichwill not in any way interfere with normal operation of the vehicle.

Yet another object is to provide a truck loading device which can beremotably operated by a single individual to move heavy objects offreight between opposite ends of the vehicle during loading andunloading.

Yet a further object is to provide a truck loading device that can bemoved beneath standing objects upon the truck floor so to selectivelywork within otherwise blocked off areas to maneuver freight.

Yet a further object is to provide a truck loading device that can bereadily installed into the body or bed of existing truck vehicles underproduction.

Other objects are to provide a truck loading device which is simple indesign, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to useand efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specifications and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a truck shown incorporating thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the mechanical principles and theelectrical circuit of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a refinement of the controls shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. Sis a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 shown in an alternate positron.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, shown in an alternate position, and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8, showing a modifiedconstruction.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10represents a truck loading device according to the present inventionwherein there is a truck or trailer 11 having a body 12 or bed (notshown) having a floor 13 that incorporates the present invention formechanically moving freight objects between opposite ends of the truckbody.

The floor is provided with a plurality of loading systems, 14, each ofwhich includes a carriage 15 that is horizontally movable between therear and front ends 16 and 17 of the truck body.

Each system includes a mechanism 18 located on the underside of thefloor 13. The mechanism 18 includes a chain 19 for moving the carriagehorizontally, the chain traveling around a sprocket 20 at the rear endof the truck and a sprocket 21 at the front end; the chain having thecarriage secured thereto, so to travel therewith rearwardly andforwardly.

The carriage 15 is comprised of a chassis 22 mounted upon wheels 23, thecarriage supporting a vertically slidable platform 24. The carriageincludes upstanding walls 25 having sidewardly extending lugs 26 thatfit into slots 27 of depending walls 28 of the underside of platform 24.The wall 28 extends upwardly through a slot 29 in the floor 13, the slotextending the general length of the floor. The platform 24 accordinglyis located above the floor- 13 where it may engage the underside offreight packages or crates C intended to be moved between the loadingend of the truck and the storage area. As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, theplatform is fitted between stringers 30 upon which the creates normallyrest while the truck is in movement, the stringers accordingly beingthicker than the platform so to extend higher. Several rollers 31rotatable about pins 32 are carried at the rear end of each stringer,the rollers extending above the stringer upper side 33 so to allowcrates to be rolled thereupon into and out of the truck entrance.

In order to move freight between areas within the truck, it is essentialthat the platforms raise the crates above the level of the stringers,then transport the same horizontally and then redeposit them at theirnew locations upon the stringers again. Accordingly to raise theplatforms, a threaded socket 34 is secured to the underside of platform24, the socket threadingly engaging a rotatable screw 35 to cause theplatform to move vertically.

The present invention includes a control system 36 for selectivelyoperating the mechanism 18, to cause the carriage to move horizontallyforward or rearward and the platform to move vertically upward ordownward. The control system, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a threepole,two-directional motor 37 that is electrically powered from the truckbattery 38, the motor driving through a clutch 39 to selectively rotatea shaft 40 on which the sprocket 20 is secured. A pushbutton 41 and apushbutton 42 on each of a pair of control panels 43 convenientlymounted on the truck, control the motor direction of rotation so as tomake the carriage travel forwardly or rearwardly. Each panel ispreferably protected by a hinge door 43'. The motor 37 also drivesselectively through a clutch 44 to cause the platform 24 to travelvertically. The clutch 44 causes rotational power to be delivered to ashaft 45 having a sprocket 46 secured thereto. An endless chain 47passes around the sprocket 46 and a sprocket 48 freely rotatable on ashaft 49 carrying also freely rotatable sprocket 21. The screw 35 of thecarriage is formed on the upper end of a shaft 50 supported rotatablyfree in a bearing 51 in the chassis 22, the lower end of shaft 50 havinga sprocket 52 secured thereto. A pair of solenoids 53 located near theopposite ends of the truck operate to actuate arms 54 that cause thechain 47 to be brought into engagement with the sprocket 52 regardlessof the location of the carriage along a track 55 upon which the wheels23 may travel, as is best shown in FIG. 8 and 9. Each arm includesrollers 56 and 57, the roller 56 displacing side wardly a leg 58 of thechain 47 so to cause it to engage the sprocket 52. The other roller 57displaces sidewardly the leg 59 of the same chain 47 so to take up theslack in the chain when it is not in engaging position with the sprocket52.

The sprocket 52 travels along a centerline 60 passing through thecenters of sprockets 46 and 48 and in order that the leg 58 of the chainbe permitted to engage the sprocket 52, the rollers 57 are locatedrelatively closer to the sprockets 46 and 48 than the rollers 56 thuscausing a more acute angle to be formed in the chain when urged byrollers 57 than when urged by rollers 56. Thus the leg 59 with the acuteangles at each end cannot engage the sprocket 52.

In a modified construction, shown in FIG. 10, the ar m 54a is designedhaving rollers 61 and 62 between which leg 58 of chain 47 is guided. Inthis modification the arm influences only the leg 58 to be displacedbetween the positions illustrated by solid lines and dotted lines, inFIG. 10.

In order to keep the controls in the simplest design, with minimummanually operative parts, the solenoids 53 are automatically actuatedwhen the clutch 44 is engaged. The clutch 44 causes a switch 63 to closean electrical circuit between the battery and solenoids 53, as shown inFIG. 2.

In a further improved construction shown in FIG. 4, the clutches 39 and44 shown in manually moved position by the handles 64 in FIG. 2 are hereoperated by pushbuttons 65 that actuate switches 66 to selectively closeeither of the electric circuits to the solenoids 67 to pivot the clutchunit 68 in the selected direction. Compression springs 69 normallymaintain the clutch unit in a neutral position as shown.

An off-on switch 70 on the control panel serves to control power to theloading mechanism.

In operative use, an operator may conveniently stand at the controlpanel where he may view the freight operation and push control buttons,to selectively raise the platform below a crate, then move ithorizontally to its storage position in the vehicle, then lower theplatform and return the carriage to its starting position fortransporting another crate in a similar operation.

While various changes may be made in the details construction, it isunderstood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, thecombination of a vehicle body having a floor, a plurality of loadingsystems on said floor, each said system including freight movingmechanism below said floor, said mechanism includes a carriage movablehorizontally below said floor, saidv floor having an elongated slottherethrough, said carriage supporting a platform above said floor, saidplatform having a vertical wall therebelow extending through said floorslot for support on said carriage, and means on said platform verticallymovable between operative and unoperative positions, to lift or lower anitem of freight respectively to said floor and to clear said floor whensaid carriage transports said item of freight horizontally from one areain said vehicle body to another, said mechanism includes a controlsystem having means for selectively moving said carriage forwardly orrearwardly, and means for selectively moving said platform upwardly ordownwardly, both said means being controlled from a remotely positionedcontrol panel, said means for said can riage travel comprises a firstpair of spaced-apart sprockets, means for moving said sprockets, a chainaround said sprockets, said chain being connected to said carriage totravel longitudinally forward or rearward between said sprockets, saidcarriage comprises a chassis supported on wheels, said chassis havingupstanding walls having sideward extending lugs engageable in slots insaid platform vertical wall to allow relative vertical movement of saidplatform relative to said chassis, and said platform having a threadedsocket on its underside engaged with an upward extending threaded end ofa rotatable shaft, rotatably carried on said chassis.

2. In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, thecombination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for causing saidplatform to travel vertically includes a control system comprised of asprocket at the lower end of said chassis shaft, an endless chaincarried between a second pair of spaced-apart sprockets, said endlesschain selectively engaging said shaft sprocket, a three-pole,two-directional electric motor, a shaft driven thereby, and a pair ofclutches operatively engaging said shaft, one of said clutchesoperatively connecting said motor to said first pair of sprockets, andthe other said clutch operatively connecting said motor to said secondpair of sprockets. 1

3. In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, thecombination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said endless chain aroundsaid second pair of sprockets is sidewardly urged to engage said shaftsprocket by a plurality of solenoids each having an arm to urge a leg ofsaid endless chain against said shaft sprocket.

4. In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, thecombination as set forth in claim 2, and separate handles for actuatingthe clutches.

1. In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, thecombination of a vehicle body having a floor, a plurality of loadingsystems on said floor, each said system including freight movingmechanism below said floor, said mechanism includes a carriage movablehorizontally below said floor, said floor having an elongated slottherethrough, said carriage supporting a platform above said floor, saidplatform having a vertical wall therebelow extending through said floorslot for support on said carriage, and means on said platform verticallymovable between operative and unoperative positions, to lift or lower anitem of freight respectively to said floor and to clear said floor whensaid carriage transports said item of freight horizontally from one areain said vehicle body to another, said mechanism includes a controlsystem having means for selectively moving said carriage forwardly orrearwardly, and means for selectively moving said platform upwardly ordownwardly, both said means being controlled from a remotely positionedcontrol panel, said means for said carriage travel comprises a firstpair of spacedapart sprockets, means for moving said sprockets, a chainaround said sprockets, said chain being connected to said carriage totravel longitudinally forward or rearward between said sprockets, saidcarriage comprises a chassis supported on wheels, said chassis havingupstanding walls having sideward extending lugs engageable in slots insaid platform vertical wall to allow relative vertical movement of saidplatform relative to said chassis, and said platform having a threadedsocket on its underside engaged with an upward extending threaded end ofa rotatable shaft, rotatably carried on said chassis.
 2. In a loadingdevice for automotive trucks or trailers, the combination as set forthin claim 1, wherein said meanS for causing said platform to travelvertically includes a control system comprised of a sprocket at thelower end of said chassis shaft, an endless chain carried between asecond pair of spaced-apart sprockets, said endless chain selectivelyengaging said shaft sprocket, a three-pole, two-directional electricmotor, a shaft driven thereby, and a pair of clutches operativelyengaging said shaft, one of said clutches operatively connecting saidmotor to said first pair of sprockets, and the other said clutchoperatively connecting said motor to said second pair of sprockets. 3.In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, the combinationas set forth in claim 2, wherein said endless chain around said secondpair of sprockets is sidewardly urged to engage said shaft sprocket by aplurality of solenoids each having an arm to urge a leg of said endlesschain against said shaft sprocket.
 4. In a loading device for automotivetrucks or trailers, the combination as set forth in claim 2, andseparate handles for actuating the clutches.